Location

Price

A small piece of heaven

"We absolutely adored the villa - the landscape, the views, the garden, the space - truly a small piece of heaven".

Since acquiring this once-derelict farm in the summer of 2002 the English owners have transformed its numerous buildings into a spacious, stylish, luxurious holiday villa. No expense has been spared and the result is, quite simply … stunning.

Situated about 10 minutes (5 kilometres) north of Ronda, even closer to the little market town of Arriate, the farm enjoys peaceful seclusion, accessed down a little single-lane country track.

It nestles on the gentle slopes of a valley with views over the rolling countryside towards Ronda, and is surrounded by vines, olives, fig trees, giant palms.

The south facing, terraced gardens of some five acres are swathed in lavender, thyme and rosemary. Complimentary, organic, seasonal fruit and vegetables are all available for guests to enjoy. It really is a delightful spot.

Really magical

The accommodation comprises the main farmhouse and a variety of fully converted outbuildings immediately below it.

The Main Farmhouse

The beautiful, double-height entrance hall has been converted into a very stylish dining hall.

Open from the ground floor to the roof, it is overlooked by both the sitting room and master bedroom galleries, which are accessed by the two opposing staircases at one end of the dining hall. Warmth is generated in winter by open fires and underfloor heating. The dining table seats fourteen.

Alongside, the deluxe farmhouse-kitchen is suitably large, and suitably well equipped (it has, for example, two ovens, two dishwashers, two sinks and even an ice-making machine).

A fantastic time

"We had a fantastic time at your beautiful villa and were all sorry to leave. We wished we had booked for two weeks!"

Also on the ground floor there is a separate laundry room (with two washing machines and two dryers), and a guest W.C.

The ample living room on the first floor offers plenty of space to relax, read, or entertain. Comfortable sofas and armchairs are gathered around the big open fireplace. There is English language satellite TV, DVD's and videos, board games, cards and books, iPod docks, WiFi internet, Bose bluetooth speakers, Sonos, and Wii with games. Plus, of course, wonderful, far-reaching views across the valley.

There are two bedrooms in the main house. The master bedroom (Bedroom 1) on the first floor, which also looks out across the hills, has a 5 foot double bed and a roll-top bath within the room. There is also an en-suite shower room and an ante room with a single day-bed. French doors from the bedroom lead to a bridge giving access to the rear garden and smaller of the Finca's two swimming pools.

Truly fabulous!

"We just wanted to say how simply amazing, beautiful, comfortable, relaxing and fabulous in every way our stay was".

Bedroom 2, on the ground floor, is a double room with two zip-linked beds (so it can be made up as either a double or a twin) and an en-suite bathroom (with both a bath and separate shower). There is direct access from the bedroom to the garden.

Here, as in all the bedrooms, you will savour the luxury of high quality pocket-sprung English beds and crisp Egyptian cotton sheets, usually the preserve of five star hotels.

Annexe Accommodation

Bedrooms 3 and 4 are located in an annexe opposite the main house. Bedroom 3 is another double room with twin zip-link beds (which can be joined to make a 6 ft double) and adjoining shower room. This room has its own front door, a lovely old wood burning stove, and access to a terrace, shared with Nº 4.

The smallest of the bedrooms, Nº 4 also has twin zip-link beds (which can be joined to form a 6 ft double), a shower room and access to the terrace shared with Bedroom 3.

Bedrooms 5 and 7 are located in a second annexe, a little further down from the main house, accessed by a stairway.

Bedroom 5 is decorated in Moroccan style, it is a double room with a 5 ft Indonesian four-poster bed and shower room. The bedroom opens onto a private terrace and to the gardens below. It can also be accessed through the games room in the lower house (see below). Bedroom 7 is a twin bedroom with adjoining shower room.

Situated beneath the Vine Terrace, Bedroom 6 has a 5 ft double bed and a bathroom with a bath and separate shower. It has a sitting room with a sofabed and an ornamental balcony overlooking its own private terrace.

Bedrooms 1, 4 and 6 have air conditioning.

Attention to detail

"We have never been taken care of so well. The attention to detail is incredible; it is absolutely beautiful. We all had such a wonderful time and would come back again and again".

Other Facilities

Just across the way from the main house is the Vine Terrace. One of the many fabulous outdoor spaces here, and conveniently located close to the main farmhouse kitchen, this long, wide terrace has bench seating all the way around as well as a large glass-topped table and chairs (seating 14), a built-in barbecue, night lighting, a sink and fridge. Shade is provided by an ancient vine.

There's much more! The lower house and terraces, immediately above the swimming pool, have been developed into a fabulous "fun" area - with seating and eating areas, stereo, video and DVD players; it even has home-cinema with a wide selection of movies for all ages.

There's a pool table, a wooden football table, table tennis and lots of games - even a karaoke machine - and a grassed area for playing boules, badminton and other outdoor games.

Absolutely perfect

"Everything about the finca exceeded our expectations. It is an absolutely perfect place to relax and entertain friends and family both young and old".

There are four tennis racquets and two mountain bikes available for guest's use.

It also has a fully equipped kitchen and an additional shower room /W.C. Wide terraces, both open and covered, extend along its entire length, overlooking the infinity pool and the gardens beyond. The dining table here, also seating fourteen is another venue ideally suited for al fresco dining.

There are two swimming pools. The stunning, 13 metres x 7 metres main infinity pool (1.2 m - 2.0 m in depth) is surrounded by stone terracing with lots of quality loungers, gazebos and umbrellas.

From here the views stretch towards the medieval city of Ronda and, in the distance beyond, to the mountains of the Sierras. The pool is enclosed by a wooden fence and a steep bank of prickly cactus.

Todo fantastico!

"En pocas palabras, muchas gracias ... where landscape and architecture, tradition and good times, good vibes and good people meet".

To the side of the main farmhouse, a second, smaller but equally inviting, filtered, spring-fed pool (8m x 5m, 1.2m-1.5m deep) offers an alternative for those who prefer a quieter dip in the shade of the huge mulberry tree. This is solar heated and also gated, surrounded by terraces with sun loungers.

Below the main pool, the gardens are laid out on a number of terraces swathed in lavender, rosemary and thyme. Around the house, flower beds are filled with sweet scented roses, jasmine and bougainvillea. The giant palms, catalpa and mimosa trees provide welcome shade in the high summer.

All is loving tended by Rafa, the gardener, who also grows organic vegetables which, according to season, are made available to guests.

And to wash them down, the property now has a small bodega (wine cellar) filled with Spanish wines and sherries which are available for guests to purchase.

The good life

"We have spent two incredible weeks here. This is a true paradise – beautiful house, grounds, views, and all the fresh fruit and vegetables you can eat"

Nearby Ronda (fifteen minutes away) is a lovely town, Hemingway's favourite in all Spain. A classic example of a fortified Moorish city - the old defensive wall, the area’s baths, mosques converted to churches by the Christians, and many other sites of archaeological interest - it is brimming with history and interest. A visit to its famous bridge and bullring, reputedly the oldest in the country, is a must.

Even closer, little Arriate is a pleasant little market town, authentically Andaluz both in pace (slow) and style (relaxed).

A little over an hour's drive through the spectacular scenery of the Serranía de Ronda will take you to the beaches of the Costa del Sol. The Atlantic beaches on the stunning Costa de la Luz take two hours.

To the north, stunning Seville is also 2 hours away. Córdoba and Granada are a further half hour's drive.

The lush Grazalema National Park, some of the most wonderful walking and riding countryside anywhere in Spain, is only 25 minutes drive away. Here you will find some of the most beautiful of the famous "white villages". Elsewhere, Arcos de la Frontera, Setenil, Gaucín and Casares are all well worth a visit.

A luxury Spanish villa in majestic countryside, this grandly proportioned and superbly appointed 'finca' is equipped and furnished to the very highest standards. Here you will celebrate all that's good about life - in style!

Villa Details

The Villa in Detail

All the facts and features about this villa

Distribution

The Main House : Ground Floor

Dining hall

Kitchen

Bedroom Nº 2: double with twin zip-linked beds (can be made up as either a double or a twin) and en-suite bathroom (bath and separate shower)

Lower Terrace

Bodega

With a selection of interesting Spanish wines, sherries and beer, available for guests to purchase

Facilities

Entertainment

Satellite TV (UK Channel Information)This property has full Sky box which receives the usual Sky channels (Sports etc), but due to changes to the UK satellite services currently does not receive UK terrestrial programmes, BBC, ITV etc. We will provide updates if this situation changes.

Gardens (organic vegetables in season are available to guests) and grounds

Parking

Notes

Adjacent to the main house is the Casita (cottage). This is occupied by the (English speaking, Spanish) resident caretaker

Rentals for this property normally run from Saturday to Saturday

In high season (July and August) air conditioning can be provided in the three bedrooms ( 1, 4 and 6)

In winter months, between November and March, a supplement of 40 Euros per week will be charged for logs for the open fires. For heating costs in excess of 8 hours per day there is a 5 Euros per hour charge. Payable locally to the house manager

A food hamper is provided on arrival

Prices include six hours cleaning each week

Additional cleaning and outside catering services can usually be provided with advance notice

ZC 53

Notes

In high season (July and August) air conditioning can be provided in the three bedrooms ( 1, 4 and 6) at a supplement of 40 Euros per week per unit requested, payable locally to the house manager

In winter months, between November and March, a supplement of 40 Euros per week will be charged for logs for the open fires. For heating costs in excess of 8 hours per day there is a 5 Euros per hour charge. Payable locally to the house manager

Please note that rentals for this villa are accepted on the following terms: (1) a non-refundable deposit of 25% will confirm the booking (2) the balance to be paid eight weeks before the holiday start date. There will be no refund of monies paid on cancellations after that date

Security Deposit

A 700 Euro security deposit is required on each booking. This is held against your credit or debit card and will be cancelled one week after your holiday, subject to any reductions for breakages or damage. See Terms and Conditions for full details.

Nearest Airports

See our Links Page for web sites of airlines traveling to Andalucia from the UK.

Around and About

This is an excellent base from which to explore this delightful and very beautiful part of Andalucía.

Excursions

For trips out, you are spoilt for choice. Hemingway's favourite town in all Spain, Ronda, with its extraordinary gorge dividing the old and new quarters, is just 15 minutes away. With its mansion houses, quaint narrow streets, museums and art galleries and Spain's oldest bullring, it is well worth visiting.

La Costa del Sol with its wealth of sandy beaches, sun, fun and nightlife is an hour further south from Ronda. It's a very spectacular trip, too, crossing up and over the Sierra de las Nieves before descending to glitzy, glamorous Marbella and a very different world!

Here you are on the doorstep of the Grazalema National Park, one of the most beautiful tracks of mountain anywhere in Europe. Jagged peaks, gorges, chasms, faults and caves, underground rivers and deep canyons are interspersed, here and there, by some of the prettiest villages in Spain - Grazalema, Zahara, Setenil and the other famous "pueblos blancos".

On the wide, blue waters of the Embalse de Zahara (it's a reservoir but you would never know), you can swim or just enjoy the beautiful views all around from one of the little bars which open up in summer on the lake shore.

Take the dramatic little mountain road from Zahara which climbs high into the mountains and on to Grazalema. From here you can head west, crossing right over the magnificent sierras, thickly forested with cork oak and Spanish fir, to Arcos de la Frontera on the other side.

For something completely different, Sevilla takes 2 hours. It is impossible not to be captivated by its exuberant atmosphere: stylish, confident, ancient and proud, yet also convivial, intimate and fun-loving. If you don't know what alegría means, Sevilla is the place to learn!

Spain's unique sherry wine region (Jerez and Sanlúcar), is well worth a visit, enhanced no doubt by stopping at one or two of the famous bodegas along the way! Jerez de la Frontera is 2 hours.

Cádiz (2¼ hours) continues to evoke the romance, intrigue and mystery of centuries of trade (some legal, some not so) between Europe, Africa and the Americas.

Activities

There are few better places in Europe than the Sierra de Grazalema to enjoy walking and hiking. We recommend "Walking in Andalucía" by Guy Hunter-Watts which includes six fabulous walks in the nearby countryside. The wonderful mountain terrain is equally facinating for twitchers, especially for spotting the big raptors. There are various guide companies in Ronda offering everything from one day caving adventures to hiking and bicycling trips.

The adventurous may want to try their hand at hang gliding or paragliding from Sierra de Lijar, just up the road at Algodonales. The village recently staged the World Paragliding Championships and is home to a number of paragliding schools with courses for beginners as well as tandem flights.

Horse trekking can be arranged at local stables.

Bicycle hire is easily arranged in Ronda. There are excellent cycle ways in the area including the Via Verde which runs along an abandoned railway line as well as far more challenging tracks for mountain biking.

Different water sports are on offer on the Zahara lake. Swimming is also possible at a number of secluded coves along the lakeside.

There is no more thrilling way of viewing the Ronda mountains than from a balloon. End your once-in-a-lifetime flight with a champagne breakfast overlooking Ronda’s old town.

The Area

Ronda Mountains

The wild and wonderful mountains which surround Ronda are spectacularly beautiful, a taste of much-touted 'Real Spain' … Read more

Arriate

Arriate appears to be a sleepy rural village, but, turn a corner, and suddenly you are in a chic and bustling small town. Well worth a visit - or two.